The CrossFit Open has witnessed a significant increase in participation in 2024. A total of 344,396 athletes across various divisions—including Open, Teenagers, Masters, and Adaptive athletes—registered for the event, marking a 6.7% rise from the previous year’s figures.

This growth, while positive, reveals nuanced trends upon closer examination, especially in demographic participation.

Open Division

In the Open division, which accommodates athletes from the ages of 16 to 54, including Teenage Boys and Girls as well as Masters, a 6.2% increase in registration was noted.

However, this overall growth was primarily propelled by the Masters divisions. A deeper dive into the 18-34 age group within the Open division uncovers a contrasting trend: while female participation grew by 3.9%, male participation slightly decreased by 0.2%.

This divergence could be attributed to various factors, including the evolving interests of younger men, the increasing availability of alternative fitness modalities, and perhaps the economic considerations of committing to competitive CrossFit

Teen Divisions Face a Downward Trend

The teen divisions experienced a decline across all categories, with a total decrease of 2.5% in registrations.

This downturn raises concerns about the younger generation’s engagement with the CrossFit Open, signaling a potential challenge for the event’s future growth.

This drop could signal several potential challenges, including the fierce competition for attention from other sports and activities, the impact of social media and digital entertainment, and possibly the intimidation factor of high-intensity competitive environments.

Masters Divisions: The Growth Engine

Contrastingly, the Masters divisions demonstrated robust growth, with every age group seeing an increase in participation, most notably in the double digits.

The 65+ women’s division experienced the highest growth rate at 33.0%, illustrating a significant uptick in older demographic engagement.

This surge is indicative of a broader trend in fitness, where more individuals over the age of 35 are prioritizing health, fitness, and competitive sports as integral parts of their lifestyle

Adaptive Divisions: A Step Back

The Adaptive divisions, now hosted by WheelWOD, saw a 24.1% decrease in participation. This drop comes despite an increase in the number of divisions from eight to fifteen, suggesting that the transition away from the CrossFit Games website may have negatively impacted participation levels.

New Participants and Retention Rates

CrossFit reported that 34% of this year’s participants were first-timers, translating to roughly 117,000 new athletes. However, this also means that approximately 30% of 2023 participants did not return for the 2024 Open, highlighting a significant retention challenge.

Forward-Looking Takeaways

The 2024 CrossFit Open’s 6.7% growth over the previous year signals positive momentum. Yet, the nuanced details of this growth—such as the decline in teenage participation and stagnant growth among young adult males—pose challenges for the event’s future.

While the Masters divisions have driven this year’s growth, the long-term sustainability of the event may hinge on attracting and retaining younger athletes. As CrossFit continues to evolve, addressing these demographic shifts will be crucial in fostering the event’s ongoing success and growth.

To sustain momentum and foster a diverse and inclusive community, CrossFit stakeholders must innovate and adapt. This could involve creating more accessible entry points for teens, broadening the appeal of the sport through varied programming, and leveraging the success stories of the Masters division to inspire participation across all age groups.

Moreover, understanding the barriers to male participation in the younger adult categories will be key to reversing the current downturn.

* Statistics from The Barbell Spin, commentary from Craig Richey.